By jbuck (Jbuck) on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 06:37 am:
Another sad story out of my adopted home-town:
Two local retired firefighters drown
MARQUETTE -- Another difficult day Sunday, for two Marquette families, as they lost loved ones on Lake Superior.
The Marquette County Sheriff's office released the names of the victims in that boating incident near Little Presque Isle Sunday.
The victims are 74-year-old Joseph December, and 72-year-old Neal Green.
Both Marquette men were fishing in the area with their wives off Decembers' 1992 proline 20 foot fiberglass boat, when the boat began taking on water and capsized.
The four of them were thrown into the water. While three resurfaced, December went down with the capsized boat.
The women were rescued by the Coast Guard, but both men drowned.
December and Green were both beloved Captains of the Marquette City Fire Department.
"When the bell went off they were as serious as any fire officer could be. In between the bells they were fun loving. Neal did like to cook, Joe did too, great senses of humor and hearts as big as fire trucks. Just great guys to be around, " remembers Marquette City Fire Chief, Tom Belt.
A viewing will be held Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Saint Peter's Cathedral in Marquette. The funeral will follow at the cathedral.